Statue of Liberty – National Monument in New York

A symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty stands in the New York Harbor, welcoming newcomers to the United States. In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was added to the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Given to the United States as a gift from France, the statue was designed by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and dedicated in 1886. The idea of creating the statue was given by Edouard de Laboulaye, a prominent political thinker, who later became known as the ‘Father of the Statue of Liberty’. Newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer and poetess Emma Lazarus helped to raise funds for the construction of the pedestal.

The sculpture is designed in the neoclassical style, and represents the Roman goddess of freedom, Libertas. Lady Liberty, as she is often called, holds a lit torch and a tablet, called the tabula ansata, on which is written July 4, 1776 – the date of US independence. The torch of the statue symbolizes enlightenment. A broken chain sits around the base of her feet, symbolizing breaking free. The statue also acts as a welcoming signal for immigrants arriving from all over the world.

The statue’s outer layer is made of 3/32 inches thick copper. The inner structure is made using cast iron and stainless steel. It was transported using the French vessel named “Isere”. The ship carrying 300 copper pieces safely packed in 214 crates appeared to sink in the turbulent seas. But, it reached its destination on June 17, 1885. The statue turned green due to the natural weathering of copper. A a greenish layer called patina has appeared on the statue as the result of the oxidization of copper.

The statue’s sturdy framework made it stand against the hurricane Sandy that hit New York on October 29, 2012. It did not suffer any damage, but the elevator to the second floor stopped working. The National Park Service (NPS) is performing restoration works.

There are three Statues of Liberty in the world. The first one is located in the city of New York, the United States of America. The second statue is in the Garden of Luxembourg, Paris and the third is in the Swan Island, France.

The Statue of Liberty is maintained by the National Parks Service, and visitors can make reservations to voyage up into the statue to the crown observation deck. The platform in the crown can hold 10 people at a time. You need to climb 377 steps to reach the crown platform. The only place for crown reservations is Statue cruises. The National Park Service has laid down certain rules and regulations to be followed for the crown tours. The visitors are just allowed to take one camera, leaving everything else in the locker room. The crown visitors must be physically and mentally fit for the tour.

The NPS also conducts several activities at the Statue of Liberty. A one-hour Junior Ranger Program is conducted for children of 7 to 12 years of age. The program is aimed at teaching the children the importance of the Statue of Liberty and why it is necessary to protect and preserve this monument. Visits to the pedestal, crown, and the museum are also conducted by the NPS.

The statue looks enigmatic at night due to the gleaming lights falling on it. Board on any of the dinner cruises available for a nocturnal journey of the calm sea and to enjoy enticing views of the monument.

There are many replicas of the statue. The prominent ones are in Jardin du Luxembourg, Ukraine, Japan, and Las Vegas.

Statue of Liberty Map

Statue of Liberty Facts

The architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc constructed the support base for the statue.

On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was finally unveiled to the public.

The statue stands at a height of 151 feet, 1 inch (46 meters).

The total weight of the statue is 450,000 pounds.

The crown of the statue has twenty-five windows that offer a wonderful view of the sea.

Auguste Bartholdi’s sketch of the statue made in the year 1880 showed it as a lighthouse.

The seven spikes of the statue symbolize seven continents.

Statue of Liberty Location

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. Visitors to the monument must take the ferry service from Liberty State Park in Jersey City or Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. The trip includes a stop at Ellis Island (which is part of the same National Monument) for those who choose to visit both attractions in the same day. The Liberty International Airport is located at a 16-minute drive from the Statue of Liberty.

Address: Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004, United States

Best Time to Visit Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty reopened on July 4, 2013. This includes the Statue. However, work continues to be in progress for the nearby Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty is typically open every day of the year except for Christmas day. The peak season at the monument is from April to September, so expect large crowds and longer wait times during these months.

Statue of Liberty Opening & Closing Hours

Ferry schedules from present to April, 11, 2014 (Winter schedule):

The first ferry from the mainland goes at 9:30 a.m.

The last ferry from the mainland leaves at 3:30 p.m.

The closing ferry leaves at 5:00 pm from Liberty Island.

Ferry schedules from April 12, 2014 to April 27, 2014 (Spring break schedule)

The first ferry from the mainland goes at 8:30 a.m.

The last ferry from the mainland leaves at 3:30 p.m.

The closing ferry leaves at 5:00 pm from Liberty Island.

It must be noted that the Liberty Island closes 15 minutes before the final departure.

Statue of Liberty Tickets

Unlike the Monument Pass and Crown Access Pass that are valid only for the specific time and date, the Flex tickets are valid for three days from the beginning date. The visitors with the Flex tickets are not counted in priority for boarding the ferry. If there is no space in the ferry, then you will have to wait for the next ferry as the visitors who buy tickets with set tour times are given priority.

What is inside the Statue of Liberty?A flight of narrow spiral steps is inside the statue. From the ground level to the base level, there is an elevator as well. The crown area is very small.

In which movies the Statue of Liberty is destroyed?
Some of the movies in which the statue is destroyed are Deluge (1933), Planet of the Apes (1968), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Cloverfield (2008), etc.

Which direction does the Statue of Liberty face?
Located in the existing Fort Wood, facing towards the southeast direction, the statue seems a welcoming sign for the arriving ships.

How long is the tour of the Statue of Liberty?
The ferry takes around fifteen minutes to reach the island. The return timings depend upon how long you take to visit the statue and the island.